C(2) PHARMA Opens Government and Research Access to Safety Stock of DIGOXIN API for Use in Potential COVID-19 Combination Treatment

LUXEMBOURG, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- C² PHARMA s.a.r.l. (C2P), a Luxembourg-based phytochemical and chemical pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution group, is announcing that they will open access to safety stocks of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), Digoxin. In early March, the API was listed for its potential to reduce the symptoms of COVID-19 patients in combination with other anti-viral drugs based on initial research in South Korea and India¹.

Digoxin is extracted from the digitalis lanata plant. Due to the structure of the ingredient, it cannot be manufactured synthetically, so there is no way for API manufacturers to respond quickly to demand peaks. As the leading manufacturer of Digoxin API for the pharmaceutical industry, C² PHARMA holds safety stocks to ensure supply as a standard operating procedure. Based on initial findings of ongoing research, the company has decided to open its safety stocks of Digoxin API to governments and to the global research community in order to meet any peaks in demand. In parallel, C² PHARMA is offering samples of Digoxin API free of charge to bona fide members of the research community and clinicians working on COVID-19 efficacy trials.

"In this moment, we see the real-life value of implementing stringent risk mitigation strategies and how they impact the global healthcare system in a time of crisis," said Andrew Badrot, CEO of C² PHARMA. "Business continuity and redundancy are cornerstones of the C² PHARMA manufacturing approach and apply to our complete portfolio of APIs, including Digoxin. As a supplier, we feel that releasing our Digoxin API safety stocks is a responsibility to our industry and ultimately to the patients that it may help at this critical time."

Verified government and research contacts may reach out to the company directly at Covid19-Digoxin@c2pharma.com to inquire about supply. The team at C² PHARMA will provide updates on developments as they are available.   

¹Scientific References:

• March 2020: Screening of FDA-approved drugs using a MERS-CoV clinical isolate from South Korea identifies potential therapeutic options for COVID-19; Meehyun Koa, So Young Changa, Soo Young Byunb, Inhee Choic, Anne-Laure Pham Hung d'Alexandry d'Orengiania, David Shumb, Ji-Young Mina, and Marc P. Windisch
• March 2020: Virtual Screening based prediction of potential drugs for COVID-19 Dr. Talluri Sekhar
• 26 March 2020: https://www.novochizol.ch/why-digoxin/; Dr. Vanya Loroch

About C² PHARMA

Established in 2014, C² PHARMA is a Luxembourg-based active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing and distribution group. The company focuses on best-in-class manufacturing, quality oversight and technical expertise for niche ophthalmic and phytochemical APIs with a portfolio of more than 20 APIs, either for purchase, or in various stages of development. R&D-scale contract synthesis services, analytical services, phytochemical profiling and impurity manufacturing are provided via affiliate company ASM Research Chemicals.

For more information visit: www.c2pharma.com